On the recordMarch 24, 2017
I would encourage my colleagues to vote for the bill. The reason I ask you to vote for the bill is kind of like the reverse: What is going to happen if this bill fails? If this bill fails, you won't be able to have the huge increase in funding in HSAs, a free-market, patient-centered tax provision which is going to help many people and particularly allow flexibility for older married couples. If this bill doesn't pass, we are going to continue to levy fines on young people who don't want health insurance, as so many people have not had when they are young. We will continue to levy fines on small business that can't afford health insurance. If this bill fails to pass, we are not going to allow States to put work requirements on Medicaid. Quite frankly, Medicaid, in many ways, is a more generous policy than the one that people who do work are able to afford through their insurers. If this bill doesn't pass, we won't be able to stop the bleeding on Medicaid funding. We are approaching a $20 trillion debt. Of course, the bulk of that spiraling debt is caused by mandatory spending, of which Medicaid is one of the worst parts. Finally, for the first time in years, we are passing a law that will make a significant dent in that mandatory spending. If this bill isn't passed, we prevent putting a provision in here requiring documentation of citizenship for Medicaid. Right now, we are becoming the healthcare provider for the world.…
